SPH Foundation sponsors National Primary Schools Tchoukball Championships for third consecutive year

Singapore, 21 May 2014 – Singapore Press Holdings Foundation (SPH Foundation) will host the third edition of the SPH Foundation National Primary Schools Tchoukball Championships this year. The Senior Division finals will be held on 23 May, Friday, at Junyuan Primary School. The event is organised by Tchoukball Association of Singapore (TBAS).

The event comprises two categories, namely the Senior Division (for boys and girls aged 13 years and under), and the Junior Division (for boys and girls aged 11 years and under). The Junior Division will be played in November.

TBAS introduced the zonal competitions for the first time this year to cater to the increase in popularity of the sport. A total of 39 teams took part in the zonals, with 16 boy and 16 girl teams proceeding to the finals to challenge for top honours.

Tchoukball is a non-contact team sport that was invented in 1970 and emphasises on speed, teamwork and strategy. It involves a unique set of rules and elements of volleyball, basketball and handball. The sport can be played by anyone regardless of varying physical and sporting abilities.

The sport is swiftly gaining popularity with over 28 associate clubs registered with the TBAS and is now being played in more than 100 schools across Singapore. Many secondary schools, ITEs, polytechnic and universities have formed teams to pit their skills through various competitions held throughout the year.

Ms Ginney Lim, General Manager of SPH Foundation, said: "SPH Foundation is proud to be the title sponsor of such a meaningful sport that is gaining popularity in Singapore, with participation numbers doubling in a short span of two years. We are pleased to show our support towards one of SPH Foundation's key objectives of promoting sports, and look forward to even more teams participating when the Junior Division takes place in November."

Mr Jeff Ang, General Secretary of the Tchoukball Association of Singapore, said: “TBAS is very thankful to SPH Foundation for their unwavering and strong partnership with us. Going into our third year together, it has been extremely satisfying to see an increase in the number of participating teams from 19 in 2012 to 39 teams this year for the National Primary Schools Senior Division. The Junior Division, to be held at the end of the year, promises more to come. More children are given the opportunity to play and enjoy Tchoukball, made possible by SPH Foundation.”

Media Invitation

Your journalist and photographer/camera crew are cordially invited to cover the finals. Please RSVP to Deror Wong at 63191226 or email derorw@sph.com.sg before 4pm, 22 May 2014.

The Singapore Press Holdings Foundation, a registered charity and an Institution of Public Character, was first set up as the Press Foundation of Singapore in January 2003 to help build a lifelong learning community that embraces language enrichment, creativity, diversity, healthy living and sports. The seed contribution of $20 million to the Foundation came from media group Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. It was renamed Singapore Press Holdings Foundation in May 2005.

The Tchoukball Association of Singapore (TBAS) was set up in September 2006. The main priority of the association is to promote the sport of Tchoukball and its unique charter in Singapore.

In the words of the inventor of Tchoukball, Dr Hermann Brandt - “ The objective of human physical activities is not to make champions, but rather to help construct a harmonious society”
TBAS continues to champion the molding of character through sports and places emphasis on the overall development of the players.